Buoy for indicating the position of sunken vessels



ov. 25, 1924. l,5l7,l58 J. J. HIGGINS l BUOY FOR INDICATING rIVHE POSITION OF SUNKEN VESSELS ENTOR I ATTORNEY.

WITNESS:

Patented Nov, Z5, 1924.

intuitivi@ JOSEPH J. HGGINS, OF BRONX, NEW YORK.

Application :tied July 13, 1923.

To all 107mm. it may concer/n:

Be it known that l, Jessen J. HIGGINS, a citizen of United States, residing` at Bronx, in the county of Bronx and State of New `York, have invented new and useful lmprorements in Buoys for indicating the Position of Sunken Vessels, of which the following` is a specification.

This invention relates to buoys and more particularly to a can buoy for indicating the position of sunken vessels.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a buoy adapted to be carried upon the exposed deck of a vessel whereby upon the accidental sinking` of the same, the buoy will automatically rise to the surface of a body of water thereby indicating the exact location of the sunken vessel.

Another object of the invention. is the provision of a buoy having a` visual indicating signal which is held in an upright position, irrespective of the movement of the buoy, which movement may be caused by a current or waves.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a buoy which is simple in construction, cheap of manufacture and highly efficient for the purpose intended.

With these and other objects in View, the invention resides in the certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described in the specification, are pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure l is aI diagrannnatifif view showing my invention in use.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the receptacle for supporting the buoy upon the deck of a vessel.,

Figure 3 is a detail. perspective vie-w of the buoy per se.

Referring; more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 designates my improved buoy which is commonly known as a can buoy, and which is in the` form of a hollow cylindrical tank, whereby the same is capable of floating upon the surface of a body of waten The outer surface of the buoy may be painted any color or combination of colors so as to render the same visible from a distance, and also the same may have inscribed thereon, the name of the vessel upon which the buoy is secured, Thek Serial No, 651,328.

ends of the buoy 10 are provided with grab handles 11 for use by persons in distress whereby the buoy will serve to keep them afloat until rescued. Secured to the top of the buoy 10 is a U-shaped bracket 12, the bight portion of which supports a staff 13. The stai-f 13 is looped near its lower end to provide an eye l-t foix receiving` the bight portion of the bracket whereby the staif is permitted pivotal movement for a purpose to be explained. The upper end of the staff is formed with a hook 15 for the reception of a lantern to mark the buoy at night, and secured to the staff directly below the hook is a flag 16, preferably red in color for visually indicating the buoy during the day. The lower end of the staif is provided with a weight 17 which tends to hold the` staff in. a vertical position, irrespective of the movement of the buoy 10 which movement may be caused by waves or a current. The bottom of the buoy 10 is provided with a pair of eyes 18 for connection with the leads ot the chain 19.

W ith reference to Figure 2, it will be seen that the buoy 10 is enclosed in a receptacle 20, bolted or otherwise secured to the cX- posed deck of a` vessel A, as at 2l. AV cover 22 is employed for normally closing` the receptacle, but is not locked thereto as the same is adapted to be lifted oil by the pressure of water during the sinking of the vessel. for releasing; the buoy 1 0. portion of the chain 19 is coiled within the receptacle aud the tree end passed down through the openings in the receptacle and deck and :meliored to the hull of the vessel as at lt will now be seen that the sinking of the vessel will cause the cover 22 to be removed from the receptacle by reason of the buoyancy of the saine, or if desired the receptacle may be provided with a gluralitv of `openings 9A for permittingV the inrushing of water into the receptacle thereby causing the upward pressure of the buoy to lift the cover from the same. The buoy having been released will rise to the surface, the coil of chain havingl been paid out as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing.

While there has been shown and described what is considered to be the preferred form of my invention it is to be understood that changes, alterations and modifications as come within the claims may be resorted to when desired.'

7h-at is claimed as new is:

l. A device of the class described, the combination with a vessel, of a receptacle secured to the exposed deck ot the vessel, a buoy normally enclosed in said receptacle, a U-shaped bracket mounted on the top of said buoy, a sta having an eye formed intermediate its ends for receivingthe bight portion of said U-shaped bracket, a. weight formed on the lower end of said staff, a cover serving,` to hold said staff in a horizontal position within the receptacle, a ilerible connection having one end attached to the buoy and the other end attached to the hull of the vessel for anchoring the buoy thereto, a portion of said flexible connection adapted to be coiled within said receptacle, whereby the sinkingoi the vessel will cause the lbuoy to automatically rise against said cover to lift the same from the receptacle and to release the buoy to permit the weight to automatically move said staff to a vertical position for visually indicating ,the position of the vessel beneath the surface of the water.

2. A device of the class described, the combination with a vessel, of a receptacle secured to the exposed deck of the vessel, a buoy normally enclosed in said receptacle, a staff having an indicating` signal at the top end thereof, said stai pivoted above said buoy, a weight formed on the lower end of said staff, a cover serving to hold said staff in a horizontal position within the receptacle, a Hexible connection having one end attached to the buoy and the other end attached to the hull of the vessel for anchoring the buoy thereto, a portion of said flexible connection adapted to be coiled within said receptacle, whereby the sinking of the vessel will cause the buoy to automatically rise against said cover to lift the saine f'roin the receptacle and to release the buoy to permit the weight to automatically move said etait' to a vertical position for risnallj,v indicating the position oi the vessel be neath the surface of the water.

n testimony' whereof l have aiixed my signature.

JOSEPH J. l-llGGlNS. 

